Pros:

Cons:

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 is the big wrestling title for fans of sports entertainment, at least until TNA iMPACT! makes its debut in 2008. It's the next step in the incremental progression that the series has undertaken since Yuke's original WWF Smackdown! on the original PlayStation. A few interesting gameplay options have been introduced and the game mode options have been streamlined a bit. But with a significantly smaller (and outdated) roster than in previous games, and little in terms of innovation, it's hard to recommend this year's game to anyone but a wrestling die-hard.

While the character models are coming closer and closer to realism with each passing year, the improvements are very subtle -- miniscule, even. The sheen of sweat on a wrestler's body can be impressive, and finally seeing blood stream from a wrestler's forehead after it's been busted wide open is a nice touch that hardcore aficionados will appreciate. The move animations look very much like what we've been seeing for years now, however, and the character models still suffer from awful hair textures and awkward-looking mouths that would look more fitting on a fish than a human. The arenas and entrances are still over-the-top and impressive, and watching some of your favorite wrestlers hit the ring can be as exciting to a wrestling fan as playing out the match. Some of these entrances are grand affairs, filled with pyrotechnics, dancing, and even Mr. Kennedy doing his own introduction.

The core wrestling gameplay isn't far removed from what we've seen in Yuke's last dozen wrestling games, which is a real shame for those looking for a healthy dose of innovation. The new "ultimate control" grapples are just multi-part grapple maneuvers that keep you on your toes, forcing you to enter a second right-analog input after initiating the hold. Sure, you can perform a couple different kinds of suplex or DDT, but there's nothing revolutionary here. Still, it can be great fun to perform three powerbombs in a row with this system, so few people who enjoy this style of gameplay will complain.

Submit to the Mexican Wrestling Mask

The struggle submission system is more interesting, and a feature that we'd like to see expanded upon in future versions of the game. Basically, when a submission maneuver is applied, both wrestlers begin a mini-game worked around movements of the right analog stick. The player trying to twist and wrench his opponent has control over how much pressure to apply, but the more you wrench, the easier it is for the opponent to break out of the hold.

One of the more interesting features in WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 is the multi-faceted 24/7 mode, which combines the previous Season and General Manager modes. Think of this as a wrestling RPG, with two distinct modes of play. You can tackle this mode as a known superstar or a created wrestler, truly at the bottom of the barrel, earning a couple thousand dollars a week and having to earn your way towards the big bucks. You'll have to rise through the ranks and gain fan popularity by working the difficult WWE schedule, putting on crowd-pleasing performances week in and week out, and even working through nagging injuries like back spasms and concussions -- medical leave isn't a big part of Vince McMahon's budget.